diff --git a/python/core/auto_generated/gps/qgsgpsconnection.sip.in b/python/core/auto_generated/gps/qgsgpsconnection.sip.in
index ac6ed936a5f..3212285ad88 100644
--- a/python/core/auto_generated/gps/qgsgpsconnection.sip.in
+++ b/python/core/auto_generated/gps/qgsgpsconnection.sip.in
@@ -22,25 +22,48 @@ struct QgsSatelliteInfo
 
 struct QgsGpsInformation
 {
+
+  enum FixStatus
+  {
+    NoData,
+    NoFix,
+    Fix2D,
+    Fix3D
+  };
+
   double latitude;
   double longitude;
   double elevation;
-  double speed; //in km/h
+  double speed;
   double direction;
   QList<QgsSatelliteInfo> satellitesInView;
   double pdop;
   double hdop;
   double vdop;
-  double hacc; //horizontal accuracy in meters
-  double vacc; //vertical accuracy in meters
+  double hacc;
+  double vacc;
   QDateTime utcDateTime;
   QChar fixMode;
   int fixType;
-  int quality; // from GPGGA
-  int satellitesUsed; // from GPGGA
+  int quality;
+  int satellitesUsed;
   QChar status; // from GPRMC A,V
   QList<int> satPrn; // list of SVs in use; needed for QgsSatelliteInfo.inUse and other uses
-  bool satInfoComplete; // based on GPGSV sentences - to be used to determine when to graph signal and satellite position
+  bool satInfoComplete;
+
+  bool isValid() const;
+%Docstring
+Returns whether the connection information is valid
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.10
+%End
+
+  FixStatus fixStatus() const;
+%Docstring
+Returns the fix status
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.10
+%End
 };
 
 class QgsGpsConnection : QObject
diff --git a/src/core/gps/qgsgpsconnection.cpp b/src/core/gps/qgsgpsconnection.cpp
index 8f46e4e73b8..e99111e70d5 100644
--- a/src/core/gps/qgsgpsconnection.cpp
+++ b/src/core/gps/qgsgpsconnection.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,48 @@
 
 #include "qgsnmeaconnection.h"
 #include "qgslogger.h"
+#include "info.h"
+
+
+bool QgsGpsInformation::isValid() const
+{
+  bool valid = false;
+  if ( status == 'V' || fixType == NMEA_FIX_BAD || quality == 0 ) // some sources say that 'V' indicates position fix, but is below acceptable quality
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
+  else if ( fixType == NMEA_FIX_2D )
+  {
+    valid = true;
+  }
+  else if ( status == 'A' || fixType == NMEA_FIX_3D || quality > 0 ) // good
+  {
+    valid = true;
+  }
+
+  return valid;
+}
+
+QgsGpsInformation::FixStatus QgsGpsInformation::fixStatus() const
+{
+  FixStatus fixStatus = NoData;
+
+  // no fix if any of the three report bad; default values are invalid values and won't be changed if the corresponding NMEA msg is not received
+  if ( status == 'V' || fixType == NMEA_FIX_BAD || quality == 0 ) // some sources say that 'V' indicates position fix, but is below acceptable quality
+  {
+    fixStatus = NoFix;
+  }
+  else if ( fixType == NMEA_FIX_2D ) // 2D indication (from GGA)
+  {
+    fixStatus = Fix2D;
+  }
+  else if ( status == 'A' || fixType == NMEA_FIX_3D || quality > 0 ) // good
+  {
+    fixStatus = Fix3D;
+  }
+  return fixStatus;
+}
+
 
 QgsGpsConnection::QgsGpsConnection( QIODevice *dev ): QObject( nullptr ), mSource( dev ), mStatus( NotConnected )
 {
@@ -82,24 +124,5 @@ void QgsGpsConnection::setSource( QIODevice *source )
 
 void QgsGpsConnection::clearLastGPSInformation()
 {
-  mLastGPSInformation.direction = 0;
-  mLastGPSInformation.elevation = 0;
-  mLastGPSInformation.hdop = 0;
-  mLastGPSInformation.latitude = 0;
-  mLastGPSInformation.longitude = 0;
-  mLastGPSInformation.pdop = 0;
-  mLastGPSInformation.satellitesInView.clear();
-  mLastGPSInformation.speed = 0;
-  mLastGPSInformation.vdop = 0;
-  mLastGPSInformation.hacc = -1;
-  mLastGPSInformation.vacc = -1;
-  mLastGPSInformation.quality = -1;  // valid values: 0,1,2, maybe others
-  mLastGPSInformation.satellitesUsed = 0;
-  mLastGPSInformation.fixMode = ' ';
-  mLastGPSInformation.fixType = 0; // valid values: 1,2,3
-  mLastGPSInformation.status = ' '; // valid values: A,V
-  mLastGPSInformation.utcDateTime.setDate( QDate() );
-  mLastGPSInformation.satPrn.clear();
-  mLastGPSInformation.utcDateTime.setTime( QTime() );
-  mLastGPSInformation.satInfoComplete = false;
+  mLastGPSInformation = QgsGpsInformation();
 }
diff --git a/src/core/gps/qgsgpsconnection.h b/src/core/gps/qgsgpsconnection.h
index c75b48cfeab..b0506ee79d4 100644
--- a/src/core/gps/qgsgpsconnection.h
+++ b/src/core/gps/qgsgpsconnection.h
@@ -38,25 +38,50 @@ struct CORE_EXPORT QgsSatelliteInfo
 
 struct CORE_EXPORT QgsGpsInformation
 {
-  double latitude;
-  double longitude;
-  double elevation;
-  double speed; //in km/h
-  double direction;
+
+  /**
+   * GPS fix status
+   * \since QGIS 3.10
+   */
+  enum FixStatus
+  {
+    NoData,
+    NoFix,
+    Fix2D,
+    Fix3D
+  };
+
+  double latitude = 0;
+  double longitude = 0;
+  double elevation = 0;
+  double speed = 0; //in km/h
+  double direction = 0;
   QList<QgsSatelliteInfo> satellitesInView;
-  double pdop;
-  double hdop;
-  double vdop;
-  double hacc; //horizontal accuracy in meters
-  double vacc; //vertical accuracy in meters
+  double pdop = 0;
+  double hdop = 0;
+  double vdop = 0;
+  double hacc = -1; //horizontal accuracy in meters
+  double vacc = -1; //vertical accuracy in meters
   QDateTime utcDateTime;
   QChar fixMode;
-  int fixType;
-  int quality; // from GPGGA
-  int satellitesUsed; // from GPGGA
+  int fixType = 0; // valid values: 1,2,3
+  int quality = -1; // from GPGGA, valid values: 0,1,2, maybe others
+  int satellitesUsed = 0; // from GPGGA
   QChar status; // from GPRMC A,V
   QList<int> satPrn; // list of SVs in use; needed for QgsSatelliteInfo.inUse and other uses
-  bool satInfoComplete; // based on GPGSV sentences - to be used to determine when to graph signal and satellite position
+  bool satInfoComplete = false; // based on GPGSV sentences - to be used to determine when to graph signal and satellite position
+
+  /**
+   * Returns whether the connection information is valid
+   * \since QGIS 3.10
+   */
+  bool isValid() const;
+
+  /**
+   * Returns the fix status
+   * \since QGIS 3.10
+   */
+  FixStatus fixStatus() const;
 };
 
 /**